Homemade Turkey Meatball Subs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a good binder for meatballs? ›

Egg and breadcrumbs are common mix-ins to add moisture and tenderness. Another binder option that people swear by is a panade, which is fresh or dry breadcrumbs that have been soaked in milk. “The soaked breadcrumbs help keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking,” as food writer Tara Holland explained in the Kitchn.

Finally, toast the rolls to prevent them from getting too soggy with sauce. Of course, some crispy-gone-soggy bites are welcome, just as the cheese pulls, sauce drips and messy fingers are, too.

Homemade meatballs and tangy marinara sauce make these meatball sub sandwiches the best ever! Topped with gooey fontina (or mozzarella cheese) AND provolone cheese, and piled on top of a hoagie roll, these are a crowd-pleaser! Top with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

These homemade Meatball Subs are topped with a simple Italian marinara sauce on a toasted bun with melted cheese. This warm comfort meal is perfect for feeding a crowd or as a freezer meal!

Slice the sub buns in half, then spread some spicy mayo on each. Add the meatballs, then bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and add cucumbers, carrots, green onion, basil and a drizzle more sauce. Enjoy!

Commercially ground turkey also has a finer texture than beef or pork, which is why it cooks up mushy. The fine consistency also means the meat has a harder time holding on to moisture.

Egg is used as a binding agent, and some type of bread crumb or cracker is added to give meatballs a bit more depth. When it comes to adding liquid to meatball mixtures, milk is often used for its versatility, depth of flavor, and richness. Without the use of milk, you may be faced with a plate of dry meatballs.

The best part about these meatball sandwiches is that you can keep it simple - with just sauce, meatballs, and cheese - or you can jazz it up a bit more by adding sautéed veggies. You can also try experimenting with different kinds of cheeses or fresh herbs or greens like arugula or spinach!

Toasty bread: Soggy meatball sandwiches are the worst. And the best way to avoid soggy sandwiches is to build your sub on lightly toasted bread. And for this recipe, we're not just going to toast the bread but turn it into buttery, perfect toasted garlic bread.

If the meatballs are packed together too tightly, they will cook up rubbery, chewy, and tough. If the meatballs are different sizes, they will cook unevenly. The smaller meatballs may end up dry and overcooked, while the larger ones may end up undercooked.

How to elevate a meatball sub? ›

Make it a mixed sandwich with some steak or grilled chicken. Add an extra kick with red onion rings to add that sharp onion taste we all love. Last, but not least, remember you can add extra mozzarella and parmesan cheese to make it extra melty and cheesy. Throw in some butter to make your pizza dough taste heavenly.

Meatballs: Use any Italian-flavored meatballs you like for this recipe, keeping in mind that homemade meatballs are best. Spaghetti Sauce: Use your favorite, well-seasoned spaghetti sauce for the best flavor. Cheese: Thinly sliced provolone is best, but thicker sliced provolone or mozzarella can be used.

Subway: Meatball Marinara

Each 6-inch sandwich contains only 4 tiny (1¼-inch, 3/4-ounce) meatballs.

For cheeses, provolone is standard and what I like best, but Swiss is nice too! Besides loads of meats and cheese on an Italian sandwich, it usually has a chopped mix of pickled and crunchy vegetables to round out the sandwich.

6 tasty meatballs in marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella. Some items may not be available in all markets.

The best side dishes to serve with meatball subs are onion rings, french fries, kale chips, cheese curds, crispy green beans, blooming onion, coleslaw, mac and cheese, Caesar salad, pickles and stuffed mushrooms, antipasto salad, and Italian pasta salad.

Warm up the meatballs and sprinkle them generously with parmesan and add a piece of sliced cheese on top to melt. Cut the sub roll and spread with the spare tomato sauce. Add the spinach, peppers, meatballs, and top with sliced onions.